Care of living organisms 

Plants

The most common plant to be found in a school science lab is the geranium Pelargonium[?]. They are very easy to grow and tolerate abuse well. They can be propagated from cuttings very easily. Take a section of geranium with one or two smallish leaves and leave in water for 2 to 3 weeks. When you see the roots growing pot into sandy compost. Cuttings should be taken on a regular basis to replace old plants, which tend to become woody and unattractive after a couple of years laboratory abuse.

Geraniums are good for the following experiments:

testing leaves for starch

nail varnish impressions of stomata

Animals

Fish pond water

Water snails [ Limnaea[?] and others] can be purchased in the UK from Blades Biological. You can easily obtain snails from garden ponds and clean canals, or from many pet shops which stock fish. They help to keep a cold water fish tank clean and free of algae. They can be used to investigate respiration and the carbon cycle see using water snails and pond weed to investigate the carbon cycle

Stick insects

Stick insects[?] come in a variety of species and by and large are very easy to keep. Beware some species of stick insect reproduce asexually and you will be overrun with little stick insects unless you remove the eggs. They typically live for about 18 months, and [depending on the species] feed on brambles or privet.

Woodlice

Start your own breeding tank: The best way to get woodlice at all times of the year (and no need to go searching under stones if ordered at the last minute). Use a large opaque plastic box with a lid; about 3-5cms of fine soil in the bottom; A couple of lumps of chalk; Some clumps of damp cotton wool; A source of food, eg celery, potato, leaves. According to which type and age range of woodlice you start with they should start breeding within a few weeks/months (some even upto 2 years to reach breeding age). If planning to be used for detailed investigation, only put one species in the tank, unless you want a selection of offspring.

Daphnia

Culture Daphnia (Water flea) in an aerated aquarium filled with tap water. Allow the water to stand for 24 hours to equilibrate dissolved gasses.

Make a suspension of yeast in water, and pipette enough into the aquarium to just give the water a milky tinge. Introduce the Daphnia. When they clear the yeast from the tank, add a similar amount. If the tank is left in daylight, algae can grow on the sunlit side. This can be scraped off and broken up, and adds to the diet of yeast. Change the water completely once a month.

One interesting, if slightly morbid way of cleaning 'green' tropical fish tanks of algae is to remove the fish into a second tank, and add Daphnia to the algal soup. After a couple of weeks, when the Daphnia have eaten the algae, re-introduce the fish. This is also an excellent demonstration of a food chain in action.

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